Northampton, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Northampton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Northampton and Hampshire County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hampshire County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
17 of 234 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hampshire County compares with Massachusetts
Hampshire County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hampshire County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hampshire County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 12.3 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 46% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 24% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 7.6% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.3% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.9% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.1% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.1% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Hampshire County has lower values than Massachusetts for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Hampshire County: 10.3% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Overview
Hampshire County has recorded 234 truck crashes since 2015, with 85 people injured and 6 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 18 days.
Northampton had 89 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Hampshire County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (11.5% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 42.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (9.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.3% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Northampton since 2015 were spread across roads: High St (1), Kellogg Ave (1), Ludlow Rd (1), SR-66 (1) and US-202 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
17 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 7.3% share (Massachusetts: 5.3%).
Route planning tips for Northampton fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.0% of truck crashes here, more than Massachusetts; adjust start times where you can.
- 10.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Massachusetts; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Hampshire County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| High St | 1 |
| Kellogg Ave | 1 |
| Ludlow Rd | 1 |
| SR-66 | 1 |
| US-202 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hampshire County) |
|---|---|
| Bridge St | 9 |
| Russell St | 3 |
| Rte 91 S Mm 26 | 3 |
| Rte 91 S Mm 22.2 | 3 |
| Pleasant St | 3 |
| Main St | 3 |
| King St | 3 |
| Amherst St @ West St | 3 |
Northampton at a glance
| Population | 31,315 |
| Land area | 34.2 sq mi |
| Density | 914 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hampshire County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 20 | +66% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 27 | +38% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 20 | -28% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 12 a year in the 1990s and 20 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Northampton
How common are truck crashes in Northampton?
Since 2015, 234 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hampshire County (85 injured, 6 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Northampton?
The worst month is August: 11.5% of truck crashes in Hampshire County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Northampton?
Since 2015, Hampshire County has reported 17 garbage-truck crashes, or 7.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Northampton compare with Massachusetts?
Per 100,000 residents, Hampshire County has 12.3 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Northampton?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.